Electric switch.



0.1. K LElN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2B,19H- v 1,184,104. Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I i I CZazZe ff C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION man APR.2B, 19H.

1 ,1 84,1 04. Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CHARLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. C'0., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed April 28, 1911. Serial No. 623,903.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact and durable switch which will insure rupture of the circuit controlled thereby with a quick snap action.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for conveying the current to said switch, and improved means for supporting and insulating the switch so that the parts of the same and the connections to the same are readily accessible at all times.

' Various other objects of my invention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I have, in order to illustrate the principle of my invention, shown several forms which it may assume in practice. My invention itself however, is in no wise limited to these specific forms, and may assume many and diverse forms and is capable of many modifications and uses, all of which fall within the scope and forethought of my improvement.

In these vviews: Figure 1 shows a partial central sectional view of a lamp socket in which a switch is mounted. Fig. 2 shows a partial sectional view on line-22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows atop plan view of the switch mechanism shown in Fig.1. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show diagrammatic views of the switch mechanism in various positions in its movement. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the cam carrying member. Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the oscillating movablercontact member; Fig. 10

shows a detail view of the socket construction. Fig. 11 shows a ,top plan view of a modified I form of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

' of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

12 shows a perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 11. Fig -13 shows a partial sect1onal xi ew 1g. 1 1 shows a perspective view -of the camcarrying member shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 15

shows a perspective view of a modified form of this cam-carrying member. Fig. 16 shows top plan view of a further modified form on the structure shown in Fig.

1. Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the cam member shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the oscillating contact member shown in Fig. 16.

First let us consider the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive of the drawing. The switch mechanism therein illustrated is of the push button socket switch type. Thls mechanism is preferably mounted upon the upper surface of a shallow, substantially cylindrical, insulating base 1. It includes a cam-carrying member 2 which is adapted to be moved across the upper face of the base 1, and in its movement causes its cams to engage a resiliently mounted contact member 3, carried near the end of a vertical shaft 1, to cause the contact member 3 to oscillateabout the shaft to make or breakthe circuit connections of the switch with a quick snap action at resilient contacts 5 and 6 carried in suitable recesses 7 and 8 in the base 1. The reciproeating member 2 is preferably of the flat construction shown in Fig. 8 and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 9. Push buttons 10 are preferably fixed to the opposite ends of this member 2. The outer'ends of these push buttons pass through openings 11 in the opposite sides of the lamp socket,,and serve to support the switch mechanism in the desired position in the socket. ,Operating cams are arranged on the opposite sides of the slot 9. In a preferred formcam members 13 and 14 are struck up from the reciprocating member 2. These cam members I have termed hill and valley cams, since the cam 13 has the conformation of a hill, while the cam 14'has slanting sides which meet atthe bottom to form a valley. (Fig. 8.) The sides of the the conformation of a Valley, that is, the cam 13 has slanting-sides which meet at the top to forms. hill, while the cam 14: has

cams are here illustrated as of sheet form and the line of intersectionofthesplanes of the slanting sides of the cam'13 constitutes the crestofithe hill, While the line of intersection ofthe slanting sides of the cam 14 constitutes the bottom of the valley. The free ends of the hill cam 13 are bent slightly backw rd and upward as at 15, while the free ends of the valley cam are bent slightly upward and inward, as at 16. In a preferred form the outer corners of each of the cams are slightly tampered as at 17.

Extending vertically upward through a perforation 18 in the base 1, and through the on the lower end of the shaft. The upper I surface of the collar 19. serves as a bearing surface for the flat slotted portion of the cam member when the same is reciprocated.

The movable contact member 3 is adapted to engage withv the cams 13 and 14 carried this cam member and be oscillated about the shaft 4 to change the connections'of'the switch with the resilient contacts 5 and 6 carried in the base when these cams are reciprocated by the longitudinal movement of the push buttons 10. This contact member 3 is provided with a sleeve 21, revolubly mounted on the shaft 4, which has a collar 22 around the base of'the same and "laterally extending contact arms 23 and 24 (Fig. 9).

The ends of these contact arms 23 and 24 are f.bent downward to form vertical contact surfaces 25 and 26 and the outer periphery of these contact surfaces is ,slightly arced as shown in Fig. 4 in order that they may properly engage when the switch is thrown,

with the resilient contacts 5-and 6 which are correspondingly arced. At points between the contact surfaces 25 and. 26 and the sleeve 21, perforations 27 and 28 are preferably formed in the arms 23 and 24 and the steel balls or'riders 29 and 30 are suitably seated I in these perforations. These steel balls form the bearing surfaces for the contact member and are adapted to ride upon the upper-surfaces of the cams 13 and 14, one'of the same riding on the sides of the hill cam, while the other rides on. the sides of the valley cam. In order to obtain a resilient connec- .tion' between the. oscillating contact member 3 and the cams 13 and 14 and thus'p'ro mote the desired snap action of the contact parts, I have provided a helical spring 31 which encircles the upper sleeve 21 and the shaft 4. ne end of this helical spring abuts against the collar 22 at the base, of the sleeve 21, while the other end abuts against a tap 32 screwed upon the threaded upper end of the shaft 4 so that when the contact member 3% raised as .the cams 13 and 14 are reciprocated, this spring 31 is'compressed.

In a preferred formthe upper surface of the base 1 is recessed as at 33 to house the switch mechanism and 'is provided with a vertical-wall 34 about its periphery which ortion of the has recesses 35 on opposite sides of the same which serve as guides for'the push buttons 10. The resilient contacts 5 and 6, with which the movable contacts of the oscillating contact 3 engage, are carriedby this base and extend over into the central recess 33. The contacts 5 and 6 are substantially hook shaped, comprising arc shaped contact surfaces adapted to make a smooth wiping contact with the contact surfaces 25 and 26, and curved shanks 36 and 37. The shank 37 rests in a recess 8 in the upper surface of the base which is slightly deeper than the recess '33 and is located at one side of the 1 same. This shank 37 is held in position by a vertical contact screw 38 extending downward through the base 1 to a recess 39 in the lower face'of the same. The shank 36 rests in the recess 7 which is slightly deeper than the recess 8 and located opposite the same. The end of this shank 36 is clamped to the base by a vertically extending contact screw 40 which extends downward through the base into an elliptical shaped recess 41 in its lower surface. On the opposite side of the lower face of the base a similar'elliptical shaped recess 42 is formed, and in these recesses are clamped by the contact screw 40 and an oppositely located screw 43, in- 'wardly extending elliptical shoulders 44 and 45 on the upper end of the threaded conducting shell 46 of the socket. 'Adjacent the elliptical recess 44 and opposite the recess 39 is a recess 47 in which is housed the lower end of a contact screw 48 which extends through the-base. and whose upper end is housed in a recess 49 opposite the upper end .of' the contact screw 38. This contact screw has nodirect connection with the moving parts of the switch mechanism but serves to establish the connection between the switch and the lamp or other device screwed into the socket, and is provided with alower resilientterminal 50 twisted" at 51 and extending inwardly through a channel-shaped recess 52 in the base to a central position parallel with the bottom of the base to make it engage the center contact of the device screwed into the socket. In a preferred form the base 1 is provided with vertically extending recesses 53 and 54 on opposite sides of' the same communicating with the recesses 39 and 47 so that the conductorsto be connected to the binding posts 38 and 48 may be readily connected to these binding posts without removing the switch mechanism from the socket. Further, in a preferred, form the threaded contact shell 46 of the socket is cut away as at 55 between the shoulders 44 and 45 in order to permit more ready access to the parts, and the central depending portion 56-of the base is slightly dished toward the central bore 18 as at57.

In a preferred form a second base member 58 is clamped over the bas 1 when the parts are assembled so that the switch mechanism is housed between the'bases and the two bases with the switch mechanism form of the base 58 a recess 59 is formed which is of substantially the same conformation as the recess 33 in the lower base and with this recessit serves to house the operating mechanism of the switch. As in the case of the base 1, the peripheral wall surrounding the recess 59 in the base 58 is provided with transversely extending recesses 60 which form passages for the push buttons 10. A central perforation 61 is formed in the base 58 through which extends the shaft 4 and the spring 31 surrounding the same. This perforation communicates with a central recess 62 in the upper surface of the upper base 58. This recess houses the tap 32 which is adapted to be screwed upon the shaft 4 and hold the base 58 in position. This base 58 is also provided with vertically extending recesses in its periphery which form continuations of the recesses 53 and 54 in the lower base 1 and permit the line wires to be passed down to the terminal connections' on the bottom of. the basel. The upper surface of the base 58 is preferably slightly convex as at 63 and its periphery is preferably provided with oppositely disposed laterally extending projections 64.

In a preferred form I mount the switch mechanism and the two-part base in a Y socket of substantially the same construction as that described in my application Se-' rial No. 565,203, filed June 6th,-1910. This socket is the same as that described .in that application in that it consists of two tubular members 65 and 66 which are adapted to be fitted together telescopically in such a manner as to prevent accidental vertical.

movement or relative rotation of the members. As is usual in such constructions, the upper socket member 66 is provided with the insulating conductor gasket 67 at the top of the same. However, in this instance the lower socket member 65 has in addition to the oppositely disposed openings 11, laterally extending openings 68 on each side of the same, which communicate with the openings 11. These openings 68 permit the projections .64, which in a preferred form are slightly wider than the openings 11, to extendqthrough the socket and thus support the. base within the socket and lock the members against relative rotation. The edges of each of these openings 68 may be bent inward as indicated at 69 in Fig; 10

thus providing substantial surfaces for the.

' projections 64 to bear against.

I will now describe the operation of a 7 switch of the construction illustrated in by the arrow. beneath Fig.6. The ball 30 will ride up the left hand side of the hill cam 13 until itreaches the crest, and the ball 29 will ride from the bottom of the valley cam 14 up the right hand slope of the same until it abuts against the slightly upturned end of the valley cam. During the movement of the cam member to the position shown in Fig. 6, the spring 31 will be compressed as the contact member is raised, as shown in that figure, and on the continued movement of the cam member to the left, the ball 30 will suddenly pass over the crest of the hill and simultaneously the spring 31 will be released to throw the parts very quickly and with a decided snap action, to the position shown in Fig. 7 wherein the ball 30 rests at the bottom of the right hand side of the hill cam 13, the

ball 29 rests at the bottom of the valley cam 14, and the spring 31 is extended. At the 1 time the ball 30 passes over the crest of the hill, the ball 29 is also being given an impetus toward the left by. the raised end 16 of the valley cam, so that this valleycam assists in giving the snap action to the parts. is riding up-the hill cam 13, the ball 29 is riding up a corresponding incline on the side. of the valleycam 14. Thus'the relation of the parts is maintained, and as the ball 30 moves up the hill, the ball 29 moves to a corresponding position on the slope. of

During the time that the ball 30 the valley cam, and acts to balance'or equalizethe movement. of the ball 30. Asa result, the spring receives its maximum compression and when the parts are in the positio'n-shown in Fig.6, is ready to exert its maximum torque upon the contact members to throw them instantly to the position shown in Fig. 7. When the operation of the switch is reversed by pushing the buttons to the right, the steps in the operation are simply the reverse of those described in connection with Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Assuming that suitable circuit connections are made to the contact screws 38 "and 48, and that current enters through the contact screw 38, the electrical circuit of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 10 when in circuit closing. position may be traced as follows fromthe contact screw 38 through the res silient, contact 6 to the oscillating contact member 3, across the same to the resilient. 1

contact 5, to the contact screw 40, through the same, to the threaded shell 46, through the same, through the device screwed in the same, to the center resilient contact 50, to

the contact screw 48, and back to the line. When the switch is opened this circuit is broken substantially simultaneously at two pointsat the two contacts 5 and 6 to reduce the are formed by dividing up the same between these points.

modified form of the construction shownin Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive. The switch illustrated in these figures is constructed and operates upon the same principle as the rangement of the contact members has been.

somewhat modified. As in the case of the previous constructions, I provide a shallow insulating base 71. In its upper surface this base'has a circular recess 72 and slightly deeper rectangular recesses 73 on opposite sides of the same. The switch mechanism'is housed in these recesses. A peripheral wall 74 surrounds these recesses and is provided with oppositely disposed grooves 75 which act as guides for the operating members of the switch mechanism. Contact screws 76 and 77 are set in opposite sides of the base to provide the necessary connections for the switch mechanism. As in the case of the switch shown in Fig. 1, I- preferably dish the central bottom portion of the base as at 78 and provide a central perforation in the same as at 79, in which is mounted a screwthreaded shaft 80. This shaft, however, does not have a collar like the collar 19 of the shaft 4, heretofore described, but is provided with a long sleeve 81 which has abottom shoulder 82 which rests on the upper, surface of the raised portion of the base 71 and acts as a. bearing surface for the cam member 83. The shaft and its inclosing sleeve pass through. this cam menuber 83 which is slotted at 84 just -as in the f case of the previous construction, and the upper ends of' 'the shaft and the sleeve 81 are encircled by a helical spring 85 simierally extending contact arms 87 are bev-' eled at their ends as at 88 to permit them to engage contact clips '89 and 90 carried on the upper surface of the base and connected to the contact screws 7 6and 77. Be-

tween this contact member and the cam member I have provided an additional member 91, corresponding in some measure to the contact member 3, in that it is proarms 93 and 94, however, instead of being made into contact surfaces are provided with upwardly extending vertical-arms 99 and 100 which pass through perforations 101 and 102 in the contact arms 87 at points between the beveled contacts and the col- In Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, have shown a action of the contact parts, the spring 85 is housed in the collar 86 of the upper contact, and has one end abutting against the top of the same, while theother end abuts against the base 91 of'the sleeve 92. The parts are held in position by any suitable means as by a hea'd 103 on the end of the shaft 80. Since an additional member has same construction as the cams 13 and 14.

shown in Fig. 8. In this instance, however, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the outer corners of the cam members as beveled. As in the previous 1nstance the cam member is provided with.

push buttons here indicated at 106. The construction shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 operates'essentially the same as the construction' described in connection with Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, although when the push buttons are moved toward the left instead of having the contact carrying member directly engage the cam surfaces as it did in that instance and move vertically to compress the spring, the intermediate ball carrying member 91 directly engages these cam; surfaces and is moved vertically to compress the spring, and when the ball has passed over the crest of the hill cam the upwardly extending arms 99 and 100 of this intermediate member give the contact member the necessary quick twist to change the connections. Assuming that suitable circuit connections are made with the contacts 89 and 90 and that .the. current enters the switch at the contact 89, the electrical the contact clip 90. When the switch is opened this circuit is broken substantially simultaneously at two points at the contact clips 89 and 90 to divide up the arc between these points.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a further modified form of the cam member. In this instance the cam member consists of a single slotted, substantially disk-shaped member 107, slotted at 108 and provided at its end with push buttons 109, just as in the case of the previous constructions. On one side of the slot however, are arranged two balls 110 and '111 set in. erforations 112 and 113 in the cam mem er in the same manner as the balls heretofore described. On the opposite side of the slot is mounted a ball 114 similarly set in a perforation 115. This ball is mounted directly opposite the center of the interval between the balls 110 and 111. In this instance the outer surface of the ball 114 acts as the hill cam,

while the inner surfaces of the ballsllO and.

111 act as the valley cam. The operation of a switch having a cam member constructed in accordance with Fig. 15 is substantially similar to the operation of the construction described in connection with Figs. 1

to 10 or the construction described in connection with Figs. 11 to 14, and the cam member illustrated in Fig. 15 may be used in place of either ofthe cam members, illustrated in either of these figures, the

circuit connections remaining the same.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18 I have illustrated a further modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1, which like the construction shown in Figs. 11 to 14, is not illustrated in connection with a socket. As in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 1, I have pro 5 vided an insulating base 116 carrying contacts 117 and 118 similar to the contacts 89 and 90 illustrated in Fig. 11. In this instance I have also provided a central shaft which we 'may here refer to as 119. This shaft, however, does not extend upward through the operating mechanism as illustrated in any of the previous constructions, but only extends through a bottom contact member 120. This contact member is substantially disk-shaped and is provided with a slightly convex upper surface and laterally extendin beveled contact arms 121 adapted to be received by the contacts 117 and 118 carried on the upper surface of the base. On oppositesides of the upper surface of the contact-member 120 at points adjacent the inner ends of the contact arms 121, balls 122 are seated as heretofore described. These balls are adapted to be actuated by reciprocating cams 123 and 124 of which 123 constitutes the valley cam, while .124 constitutes the hill cam. cams are 'of the wing type andhave fiat body portions and downwardly extending cam surfaces. They are pivoted on opposite sides of a central shaft 125 having push buttons 126 on its ends, which is adapted These sides of the base. I In a preferred form each of the cams 123 and. .124 is provided with two inwardly extending perforated lugs 128 and 129 on each end through which pass the shaft 125. In a preferred form the lugs 128 on the inner ends of the valley cam fit within the lugs 129 on the inner ends of the hillcam. In order to give the resilient action to the wing cams 123 and 124 a helical spring 130' having its free ends bearing upon -to limit the movement of the contact arms The operation of the switch shown in F igs. 16, 17 and 18 is substantially similar to that of the switches heretofore described in that by a reciprocating movement of a hill and valley cam a contact member is oscillated to change the connections of the switch. However, in this instance as the cams are modified by the resilient mounting of the same, the cams have an upward movement and these cams themselves serve to store the energy in the spring 130 so that when the ball passes over the crest of the hill cam 124 the spring exerts a downward pressure on the cams causing the same to throw the balls and therefore the contact arm carrying the same to the desired position. Assuming that suitable electrical connections are made to the contacts 117 and 118 and that the current enters at the contact 117, the electrical circuit through which the switch shown in Figs. 16 to 18 when in circuit closing position will extend from the contact clip 117 through lt he oscillating contact member-120 to the contact 118 and back to the line. When the switch is open a rugged construction adapted to withstand long wear in service. Further, these parts are of an exceedingly simple construction and may be readily manufactured and assembled at a small expense. Due to the quick and positive snap action of the contacts, switches of this type are particularly adapted to break a circuit where the actuating part moves relatively slowly with respectto the contact breaking parts, and operate quickly and positively to 'break the circuit with a very small are between the contacts no matter how slowly the actuating parts are moved. For this reason switches of the type herein described are particularly I adapted to use as socket switches, pendantswitches and the like, but they are in nowise limited to these particular uses and may be used in various other relations.

While I have described in this application several specific forms of my invention adapted to use with mechanism of the push button type, these specific forms have beenchosen as but means of illustrating'the principle of my invention which itself is not in any way limited to these specific forms or this specific type of switch and may assume various other forms and be incorporated in various modifications of the forms herein described, all of which fall within the scope and forethought 01* my improvement.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric 'switch,'the combination with an operated member having associated contacts, and means to receive and store'energy for moving the same, of an operating member, and means lncludmg a concave cam and a convex cam each'movable with one of said members and bearing upon the other of said members for efiecting a storage of energy in said. first mentioned means, for tuning the expenditure of such energy and for directing the movement of said operated member under the influence of suchenergy according. to the direction of movement -of 7 said operating member.

2. In an electrlc sw tch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, means to receive and store energy on movement of said operating member. for impart ing an accelerated movement to said operated member and means comprising a concave cam and aconvex cam carried by said operating member and bearing on said'operated member for efiecting accelerated movement of said operated member in opposite directions through the medium of said energy-storing means.

u I i o 3. In an electrlc switch, in comblnatlon, a

pivoted operatedmember having associated contacts, a reciprocating operating member, means to receive and store energy on movement of said operating member for imparting an accelerated movementto said oper- .ated' member, and means comprising spaced concave and convex cams movable with said operating member and bearing on said operated member on opposite sides of its axis for initially effecting a storage of energy in said first mentioned means, for thereafter.

insuring and controlling the expenditure of such energy and for directing the accelerated movement of said operated member in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

4:- In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, a cam on one of said members engaging the other and vtending throughout the movement of said operating member to effect circuit-changing movement of said operated member, and other means associated with and controlled by said members to restrain and release said operated member.

5. In an electric switch, in combination,

an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, a cam on one of said members engaging the other and tending throughout the movement of said operating member to eifect circuitchanging movement ofsaid operated member, and a second cam on one of said members engaging the other member to successively restrain and release said operated member. Y

6. In an electric switch, in combination, an oscillatory operated member having associated contacts, a reclprocatory operating member, a cam on the latter engaging said said members and engaging the other member, one of said cams effecting restraint and release of said operated member upon move ment of said operatlng member and 'the other effecting a storage of energy in said means during the restraint of said operated member.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, energy storing means associated with one of said members, a cam on one of said members engaging the other and tending throughout movement, of said operating member to effect circuit-changing movement of said operated member, and a second cam on one of said members engaging the other to'temporarily restrain movement of said operated member, said cams cooperating during said restraint to efiect a storage of energy in said means.

9. In an electric switch, in combination,

ise

. an oscillatory operated member having associated contacts, a reciprocatorv operating member, means to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating member for imparting an accelerated movement to said operated member, a cam on said operating member engaging said operated member and tending throughout movement of the former to effect pivotal movement of the latter, and a second cam on said operating member engaging said operated member to temporarily restrain movement of the latter, said cams cooperating during said restraint to effect a storage of energy in said means.

l0. Ingan electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, a concave cam on one of said members engaging the other and tending throughout movement of said operating member to efi'ect selective circuit changing movement of said operated member, and a convex cam on one of said members engaging the other to suecessively restrain and release said operated member upon each movement of said operating member.

11. In an electric switch, in combination,

' an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, energy storing means associated with said members, a concave cam 011 0118 of said members engaging the other and tending throughout movement of said I operating member to effect selective circuit-changing movement of said operated member, and a convex cam on one of said members engaging the other to temporarily restrain said operated member, said cams cooperating during such restraint to effect a storage of energy in said means.

12. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted operated member having associated contacts, and a push button operating member, spaced concave and convex cams on the latter engaging said operated member on opposite sides of its aXis during relative movement of said members, said concave cam tending throughout the movement of said operating member to effect pivotalmovement of said operated member in selective directions and said convex cam acting to periodically restrain and release said operated member.

13-. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, means adapted to have energy stored therein by movement of said operated member in one direction and to expend such-energy to move said operated member, a cam on one of said members engaging the other and acting upon movement of said operating member to efiect movement of said operated member in either of two directions, and

means associated with and controlled by said members to direct the movement of said operated member and to time the change in its direction of movement.

14. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, means adapted to have energy stored therein by movement of said operated member in one direction and to expend such energy to move said operated member, a cam engaging said operated member and operable to move the latter in the aforesaid direction and also acting to'direct the movement of said operated member under the influence of said energy storing means, and means associated with and controlled by said members to time the expenditure of energy by said energy storing means.

15. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted operated member movable axially, a rectilinearly movable operating member, means to receive and store energy upon axial movement of said operated member and to expend such energy to impart accelerated pivotal movement to the same, a concave cam on said operating member engaging said operated member and tending upon movement of the former in either direction to effect either pivotal or axial movement of said operated member, and operative connecting means between said members to direct axially the movement of said operated member by said cam and to time the change in its movement.

16. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, means adapted to have energy stored therein by movement of said operated member in one direction and to expend such energy to move said operated member, a concave cam on one of said members engaging the other and acting upon movement of said operating member to effect movement of said operated member in the aforesaid-direction and to direct the movement of said operated member under the influence of said energy storing means according to the direction of clated contacts, a rectilinearly movable operating member, means to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating member and to expend such energy to move said operated member, a concave cam on said operating member engaging said operated member on one side of its axis to effect a storage of energy in said means andto direct the movement of said operated member under the influence of such energy parts on theother riding in a single direction over a plurality of said surfaces and back and forth over another one of said surfaces upoirmovement of said operating member to efiect-sald accelerated movement of said operated member through the medium of said means.

19. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts asso ciated therewith, an operating member, means to receive and store energy upon ,movement of said operating member for lmparting accelerated movement to said operated member ineither direction, a plurality of inclinedsurfaces on one of said members and engaging parts on the other member riding in one direction over a plurality of said surfaces and forth and back over either of two other of said surfaces during relative movement of said members ,to selec'tively effect accelerated movement of said operated member in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

20. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, and means associated with said members to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating member for imparting an accelerated mpvement to said operated member, a pair of correspondingly inclined surfaces and an oppositely inclined surface on one of said members engaging the other, said correspondingly inclined surfaces co-acting during initial movement of said operating member to effect a storage of energy in said means, and one of said correspondingly inclined surfaces and said oppositely inclined surface co-acting thereafter to direct said accelerated -.movement of said operated member by such stored energy.

21. In 'an'electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating-member, and means associated with said members to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating member for imparting an accelerated movement to said operated member, a pair of correspondingly inclined surfaces and a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces on one of said members engaging the other, like surfaces of said pairs of surfaces c'o-acting during initial movement of said operating member to effect a storage of energy in said means and unlike surfaces of said pairs of surfaces co-acting thereafter to selectively direct said accelerated movement of said operated member in accordance with the direction of movement'of said operating member.

22. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted operated. member having associated contacts, a rectilinearly movable operating member, and means to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating member for imparting a delayed 'accelerated movement to said operatedmember, a pair of diverging surfaces and a pair of correspondingly inclined converging surfaces; on said operating member engaging said operated member on opposite sides of its axis, one of, said diverging surfaces and one of said converging surfaces co-acting during initial movement- ,of said operating member to effect a storage of energy in said means, and the aforesaid diverging surface and the other converging surface co-acting thereafter to selectively direct said accelerated movement of said operated member in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

23. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, and operative connecting means between said members for temporarily exerting counterbalancing pressures on said operated member upon initial movement of said operating member and for thereafter relieving one of said pressures. to release said operated member while maintaining the pther of sald pressures.

24.. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, and a pair of inclined surfaces on one of said members engaging the otherv for exerting equal and opposing pressures on said operated member during initial movement of said operating member and to release said operated member after a'temporary period.

25. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having contacts associated therewith, an operating member, and means associated with said members to receive and store energy during initial moveon the other of said members, one surface of each of said pairs of surfaces co-acting to ment of said operating member for effecting a storage of energy in said means, one of said first co-acting surfaces thereafter maintaining one of said pressures and the other of said surfaces releasing said operated member for said accelerated movement thereof in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

26. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted operated member having associated contacts, a reciprocating operating member, a spring associated with said members to receive and store energy during ini tial movement of said operating member for imparting a delayed accelerated rotation to said operated member, and operative connect-ing means between said members for temporarily exerting counter-balancing pressures on said operated member to effect a storage of energy in said means and to selectively relieve one of said pressures to release said operated member for said accelerated rotation in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

27. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable member tobe digitally moved, a pivoted member to be mechanically moved, said pivoted member having an associated contact, means associated with and controlled by said members tending throughout each movement of said reciprocable member to oscillate said pivoted member in one direction and other means associated with and controlled by said members restraining said pivoted member against oscillation during a partial initial movement of said reciprocable member, one of said means including a concave cam on said reciprocable member and a part resiliently engaging the same and riding back and forth over a portion thereof upon each complete. movement of said reciprocable member.

28. In an electric switch, in combination, an operated member having an oscillatory and reciprocatory movement, an operating member having a reciprocatory movement, and operative connecting means between said members whereby said operated member is reciprocated during a predetermined movement of said operating member and is oscillated and reciprocated simultaneously after said predetermined movement of said operating member.

29. In an-electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operating member, a concave cam thereon, a pivotedcontact member oscillatable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of reciprocation of said operating member, and an operative connection between said members comprising means tending to rotate said contact in one direction during each complete operation of said operating member and means holding the same against rotation during a predetermined initial movement of said operating member, one of said means resiliently engaging said concave cam and riding back and forth overa portion of the same at each complete operation of the operating member.

30. In combination, an insulating base, a spindle carried thereby, a slotted cam member movable on said base and having its limits of travel established by engagement with said spindle, said cam member being provided with concave and convex cams on opposite sides of said spindle, a contact member pivoted on said spindle and engaging said cams, and a helical spring on said spindle pressing said contact member into engagement with said cams.

31. In combination, an insulating base, a spindle carried thereby, a slotted cam carrying member having its limits of travel established'by the engagement with the opposite sides of said spindle, said cam carrying member being provided with concave and convex cams, a contact carrying member pivoted on said spindle, resilient means holding said contact carrying member in engagement with said cams, terminal contacts carried on one side of said base and terminal connections for said contacts on the opposite side of said base.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses:

H. L. ROCKWELL, F. H. HUBBARD. 

